Of the many open areas around Kingston, one well worth a visit
is the Cook Natural Area (also known as the Cook Preserve). Just to the east
of Kingston, it is a place of unique interest. It was created by Deed of Gift
from Grace Cook to the State of New Jersey in the 1970s. By the terms of the
Deed, the Preserve is to be "maintained to promote the enjoyment of natural
things including trees, birds, wildlife and water; to educate the public as
to the importance of ecology to all life including man's; and to nurture plants
and animals for agricultural, horticultural, scientific and recreational purposes."
The intent of the gift was to maintain the sense of the old farmland and the
bucolic delight of its scenery.

To this end, the Preserve consists of two sections:

The Natural Area section, about
22 acres, which occupies mainly the defined wetland areas adjacent to Heathcote
Brook and Carter Brook. State law requires minimal human interference in this
area, although nature trails and educational facilities which assist public
interpretation of natural processes, flora and fauna are permitted.

The Agricultural section, about 30 acres. This
is mainly open field. The Deed specifies that activities may include bicycling
and horseback riding and that facilities may be constructed to support these.
It is possible that this could include such things as riding stable, public
sanitation and water facilities and an information center; but there is no
immediate intention to build any of these. The fields are being farmed for
hay.

The Preserve is contained in the oldest farmland that was established
in the district. It is elegantly overlooked by the massive stone Heathcote Farm
building, built in 1857, which was initially intended as a State juvenile detention
center but later completed as a private residence. (At the time of its abandonment
by the State it had consumed a majority of the total State funds for the year!).
Heathcote Brook is crossed, in the middle of the Natural Area, by a picturesque
old stone bridge, which was re-erected at its present site around 1937. It was
originally built to carry Ridge Road over Heathcote Brook, perhaps in 1865.

There is a variety of routes to walk in the area: around the
perimeter of the fields; across the bridge and onwards along the D & R Canal
Linear Park; or up Carter Brook to the Holsten farm land, now preserved as open
space thanks to a County purchase. A short trail circumnavigates a pond in the
woods.

All these walks have their special delights, in particular a
sense of being in the country, in the fields or by the edge of the stream. An
exceptional feature of the Preserve is the profusion of flowers that can be
found. Both the glacial deposit soil and the wetland region contribute to this:
in spring the immediately evident ones include Spring Beauties, Trout Lilies,
Violets, and May Apples. In fall an equally wide variety blooms. A recent September
walk rapidly revealed 14 flowering species, all elegantly ornamental, having
endearing names such as Heal-all, Spotted Joe Pye Weed, Touch-me-not, Boneset,
Late Purple Aster, Sweet Everlasting, Mild Water-pepper and of course Purple
Loosestrife.

In winter the Preserve again has its own special beauty, with
snow-covered fields and ice patterns in the brook. It is ideal for cross-country
skiing, along the walking trails or across the open fields.

You will certainly find an expedition to explore the Preserve
to be rewarding. Be aware that some parts of the trails may be muddy after rain.
There is a wooden bridge over Carter Brook and a boardwalk across the swampy
area leading to it, both constructed by Eagle Scouts. A trail (the "Heathcote
Trail") also leads to the Preserve from Kingston Lock. It is now possible to
walk or bicycle comfortably from the Kingston lock, over the old stone bridge
and on to Heathcote Park. This whole section forms part of the "Freedom Trail".

Parking is at the junction of Ridge Road and Heathcote Road.

Administration of the Preserve is by the Delaware and Raritan
Canal State Park, Superintendent, Patricia Kallesser. The Park is part of the Division
of Parks and Forestry, of the Department of Environmental Protection of New
Jersey.

The Preserve is part of the Kingston Green Belt. It is continuous
with Heathcote Meadows on the west and the Mapleton Preserve on the
east.

3/26/05

BOARDWALK CLEARING 2009

The boardwalk in the Cook Natural Area had become seriously overgrown; parts of it were virtually impassable. Undaunted by the task, Rutgers EnviroSteward Ron Chen
volunteered his skills and energy to tackle it. He teamed up with Tari Pantaleo, and after three two-hour sessions and a healthy assist from Rick Lear of the
Middlesex County Parks Department, the deed was done from end to end! In the process, it was discovered that some of the walk needs maintenance, and long-term
solutions are sought, along with a plan to keep the boardwalk walkable.

TRAILS DAY 2008

On the sweltering Sunday of June 1st, 2008, three determined volunteers first bent, then drove in rebar to anchor sections of the
boardwalk in the Cook Natural Area. This will help prevent portions of the boardwalk from floating away during flooding.
Also, overgrowth was cut back along the trail segment between the old stone bridge and the rail trail.

TRAILS DAY 2007

Four hardy volunteers turned out for a steamy two-hour session of cutting back overgrowth along the Cook trail,
and replacing portions of the boardwalk that had washed away in flooding earlier this year.